The French Zeitgeist

[Skybird]

Any French here who could comment on this? Does it hit the nail on top, or is it all a glorious misperception?



https://www-faz-net.translate.goog/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/frankreich-niemand-will-mehr-arbeiten-weil-sowieso-alles-egal-ist-18408405.html?printPagedArticle=true&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=de&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp#pageIndex_2


I admit that I do not understand France well (nor French), I have sympathy for the french people and France (not so much for the language whic kepts me struggling endlessly at school...), but sometimes I find it hard to understand some of their attitudes and views.


Anyway, any modern human wanting a deceleration of our ever more hectic, ever faster way of living, has my natural interest and sympathy. I disconnected from these modern drives in our present living style, too. The point is: I can afford it, do not live at the community's costs, do not have the state paying for meand thus: all the others paying for me. What about those many who are not as independent?


Lucky is he who finds a profession and job that really fulfills him and that he loves to do, for even when he works, he is not "at work", and even when he is at his job, its not a job, but a call he sees as a gift. Make your hobby your job, some say. Make that what you love your profession. Such people often live a very happy life, even when having both their hands full with loads of "work". And they often give me a psychologically extremely healthy and balanced impression.


Well. Back to the French.

[Shady Bill]

My German is poor at best, but if this is an article regarding the French and Arbeit, I assume it is in the spirit of having a shorter work week or working less in general.

I agree with you Skybird, that if your job is your hobby, you never have to work a day in your life.

That having been said. I think with global uncertainty and inflation, we will see a shift in what people consider "important" in life. This will not be due to some form of "great awakening" it will be forced upon them by global politics.

The only thing better than being rich, is not needing money. We are a society of consumption, and unless that changes, you will have to keep trading your time for things that earn money. But once you realize you only need a third of the garbage that you own, your perspective changes.

[mapuc]

Only the first part of the article is viewable. The part I could read about people don't want to work with things like Bricklayer, cook and waiter, domestic help, wine grower, bus driver.

We have exactly the same problems here in Denmark and in Sweden-The young people will rather work with computers or other technical stuff.

Here in Denmark they are now giving a person who seek education as a bricklayer, a cook or drive a bus, full wages from first day in their education. This helped a little but not enough.

zeitgeist=Time ghost/spirit

Markus

[Shady Bill]

a cook or drive a bus
Markus


The two most commendable of all trades imo.

[Skybird]

Argh, like the NZZ the FAZ seems to now hide their articles behind paywalls after some time, too, I cannot access it anymore, too. Sorry guys, did not know this.